The trip got off to a very quick start before we even got on our bikes. Just as our train was coming into sight it quickly stopped before it was rerouted to another platform due to the train that departed a couple minutes before now being stuck at the next station due to the train being evacuated as a passenger was requiring an ambulance. We made the shuffle across with our bikes and made it to the platform as the train was moving down the platform. When we got to Central Station the train was delayed further as a result as trains made various movements due to the incident. This meant Luke could get a few photos of the train. After a short delay we were finally off on our long trip to Nambour.

The ride from Nambour to Coolum was quick and quiet with the only incident being a crocodile jumping into the water in the canal beside Bronwyn (was it a duck?? who knows as it was dark) which increased Bronwyn’s average speed a little. We arrived at the hotel around 8pm where we quickly checked in and then went to bed as sign on was downstairs at 4.15am.

Bronwyn was awoken due to a quick passing shower around 3.45am  which meant it was going to a wet ride – and Luke had white socks. We both signed on, collected our bib numbers in the rider pack and awaited the rider briefing from Henk. At 4:45am the group of a hundred-or-so departed Marcoola heading for the Sunshine Coast hinterland on roads that were still wet from the early morning shower. We started within the first 8 riders but once we turned onto Euldo Flats road the group encountered the first bit of climbing and the first bit that Bronwyn struggled to keep up with the group speed wise. Last years event we started in multiple waves so we were able to regroup with other smaller groups throughout but not on this years ride. Bronwyn managed to regroup on the descents and on the flats but would loose touch on the top of the crests/pinches of the rolling hills which was made apparent when the event photographer took a photo of Luke pushing Bronwyn on one of steep crests on Vise Road. Just before we turned onto Eudlo road Bronwyn dropped of the tail of the group on one of the long drags. This would be the last time we saw the bunch with 97km to go. At 35km we came to the steepest part of the entire ride. The Eudlo Wall. An average of 7% for 600m but with most parts pushing 15-20%. A small group caught up and passed us but towards the top they got off and walked their bikes allowing us to continue on our way. It wouldn’t be the last we saw of them.

Having conquered the Eudlo Wall it was onto Landsborough but before we got there we had to tackle a couple extra sharp pinches. Even though Bronwyn made it up the Eudlo Wall without walking the Tunnel Ride Road Pinch proved to be just a little too steep which allowed the small group that we had been trying to stay ahead of for the last 8km to catch right up. All the way into, through and after Landsborough we would see them in the distance however we lost sight as we got stuck at the Peachester Road intersection.

Once we made the turn we were only 4km from the climb up to Peachester.

We departed Peachester knowing that we were the last two riders on the ride. So we pushed on riding the narrow, twisty and ever climbing gradient past the scenic views along Bald Knob Road trying to beat the cut off time for the second stop. 

Just before the left turn onto Landsborough Maleny Road we were caught by the last support vehicle which stalked us until Balmoral Ridge which is when we caught up to and passed several other riders. But just before we got to Flaxton the support vehicle caught up, pulled alongside and told us that we were going to miss the cut off time, skip the extra section outside Nambour and to return to the finish area at Marcoola. As we were going through Mapelton and since we weren’t in the ride anymore we decided to stop in at the bakery for some Morning Tea and sweets. After we had indulged a little bit we made our way back to Marcoola. On the way down Mapelton these slow pesky bikes that hold up traffic were slowed down by cars. It also meant Bronwyn saw a familiar rider that she knew from Cycle Queensland. We rode to Bli Bli via Petrie Creek Road where Sue stopped to be picked up and we continued onto Marcoola. Interestingly enough all the interactions with cars all came as we were riding through Pacific Paradise just a few km from the finish. However we still completed the ride (even if we missed the little section that made it a little longer to reach 130km) where Luke then caught up with Henk since he took a lead role in the Australian Cycling Academy Team that’s based on the Sunshine Coast.

Before we started our return journey we got in a quick 40km by riding up to Castaways Beach and checking out some of the damage done by recent bushfires at Peregian Beach and Peregian Springs. After having breakfast we went upstairs to pack up and just before we were set to leave the hotel fire alarm went off. After a little while we were given the okay (the building still had a strong smell of burning metal thanks to the welders in the elevator shaft) and carried our bikes down the narrow fire escape stairway to the building exit as the remaining elevators were still out of order. Besides Bronwyn pretending to slap some guys ass as he bent over to brush his feet with a dust pan brush standing in the narrow bike lane between his car and traffic going past at 60kph the only amusing incident was heading into Mooloolaba down the hill from Buderium Ave when a little 4WD had to beat us into the turn. We even had a little stop at Mooloolaba to look at the bikeway there but guess who got to the lights first outside Kawana Shoppingworld??? And it wasn’t a vehicle with 4 wheels 🙂